The benefits and risk cloak more central driving factors among AI titans: the will to power, the desire for wealth, the hunger to be in charge. The sheer technological sweetness, too\u2014the hard problem followed by the elegant answer. Scientists involved in technological breakthroughs always have a sweet spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But about four years ago, when reports of AI\u2019s advancement began to break through to people paying attention, there was no declared objective: \u201cWe\u2019ll split the atom, win the war, put man on the moon.\u201d There was no clear product or labor-saving device. AI simply promised to change everything. It would create intelligence itself, an artificial but superior version of human intelligence. Then we\u2019d figure out what to do with it, and what it will do to us. It will transform the human condition. For better or worse? Let\u2019s strap in and find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our society, our country, never decided to \u201cdo\u201d AI. History will be perplexed by this. Something so big, so epochal, and people had no say? There was no vote, no debate. Some people started to do it and raise capital, and we shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s the next step.\u201d As Sam Altman said early on, electricity, computers, the internet\u2014now this. Americans always take the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The creators and owners of AI might be pressed to answer the question: Exactly what purpose were you pursuing, and how, with a sense of the downsides, did you expect us to like it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> From @WSJopinion: History Raises Its Eyebrows at the Week in AI by @Peggynoonannyc\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/diQJHPj1c5<\/p>— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 18, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n